The Connection Between Online Gambling and Problem Gambling
Unlike traditional forms of gambling, such as land-based casinos or bingo halls, Internet gambling involves placing bets and receiving them online. These transactions may be lawful or illegal, depending on the jurisdiction in which they take place. In some instances, however, these gambling activities are a violation of federal criminal laws.
One of the most interesting aspects of internet gambling is the ease with which a person can access a variety of betting products and options. This includes sportsbooks, poker rooms, online casinos, and online lottery sites. As more jurisdictions legalize and regulate the medium, a growing number of gamblers are turning to it. The advantages include convenience, speed, and the physical comfort of gambling in the privacy of your own home. While the presence of these benefits is likely to continue to grow, the potential for harm has also been pointed out.
Several studies have investigated the connection between online gambling and problem gambling. Some of these have found that a large proportion of problem gamblers engage in the activity. However, most have been unable to determine whether the increased use of the Internet by problem gamblers leads to a corresponding increase in their gambling problems. Despite these limitations, it is not entirely impossible to draw a connection between online gambling and problem gambling.
In 2007, approximately 6 percent of the British population reported using the internet to gamble. Among those, a full six percent of problem gamblers reported that they used the Internet to place bets. Of these, about half said that they had been troubled before they began to gamble on the Internet.
A study by LaPlante and colleagues reported that the Internet has played a small role in the prevalence of gambling. They discovered that there was a correlation between the number of gambling games people played and the risk of them becoming a problem gambler. More recent research suggests that the relationship between gambling activities and risk of problem gambling may be more complex.
Other research finds that a high rate of accessibility to Internet gambling options may lead to disordered and pathological gambling. This paper is a brief overview of some of the latest findings on the subject. It aims to present the most important and interesting new findings relating to adult Internet gambling addiction.
Many of the most significant findings related to the Internet have been studied cross-sectionally. To this end, researchers have used a number of methodologies, from the aforementioned self-report to the analysis of online gambling sites. Both methods provide information, but they may be biased in their respective measurement systems. Similarly, the best evidence pertaining to the connection between the Internet and gambling problems is the study of Internet gamblers as a whole.
Nevertheless, some of the most interesting studies focused on specific areas of internet gambling. For instance, in the United States, a $3.2 million fine was levied against Discovery Communications for advertising its Tropical Paradise casino site. Meanwhile, Australia has legalized land-based electronic gaming machines.